District



UNIT D STATES PATEN OF ICE.

OOLLESTIN SKATULLA, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THEMONOLINE COMPOSING COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF I COLUMBIA.

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING CAST TYPE-BARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,205, dated November13, 1894.

Application filed'J'une 16, 1894. Serial No. 514,787. (No model.)

. To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OoLLEsrIN SKATULLA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Producing CastType-Bars, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the well known class of machines for producingtype-bars, or

lines of words or characters, wherein interchangeable matrices andspace-bars are released by finger-key mechanism from the cells orchannels of a magazine and assembled in n1. orderly arrangement in anassembling or composing block from which the line is shifted I into aVertically movable transfer yoke or frame and lowered into properrelation to a mold into which type-metal is injected to cast thetype-bar, or the line of words or characters. The space-bars are eachcomposed of a main wedge-plate and a secondary wedgeplate inseparablybut slidably connected with the main wedgaplate and havingits upper z 5or thickest end provided with lateral sustaining lugs or shouldersadapted to engage with grooves or ribs in the transfer yoke or frame, sothat after the aligned matrices are clamped in position, and prior tothe casting operation, the main Wedge-plates, of the space-bars can beforced or driven lengthwise to obtain the proper spaces between theirmatrices.

In machines of the character alluded to a serious objection exists, inthat matter printed 5 from the cast type-bar frequently exhibits burrs,or lines of demarkation, or fine lines, between more or less of theletters or characters, which is prejudical to the appearance of theprinted matter, and prevents thehigh 4o perfection desirable in the artof printing.

The cause of the burrs or lines referred to resides in the fact that thesecondary wedgeplates of the space-bars remain immovable or stationaryduring the justifying operation, and the type-metal injected into themold comes in contact with the secondary wedgeplates at certain pointsand gradually'accumulates thereupon in the form of small lumps orprotuberances, which, in the frequent operation of the space-bars areforced against the walls at the sides of the characters or letters ofthe matrices. These walls are extremely thin-sometimes only a thousandthpart of an inch in thickness-and they are more or less crushed orpressed inward by the lumps or protuberances formed by the type-metalaccumulating on the edges of the secondary wedge-plates, until finallycavities are formed in the walls, which eventually admit small portionsof the type-metal which ac- 6o cumulates, as before stated, on thesecondary wedge-plates, with the result that the casttype bar presentsthin metal lines or projections approximately the same height as theletters or characters. In printing from the cast type-bar the lines orprojections produce burrs, or lines of demarkation, or fine lines,between the letters, thereby materially detracting from the appearanceof the printed matter, and preventing the production of finely executedwork.

In operating machines of the class referred to, the attendants areinstructed to daily remove all traces of metal from the space-bars andgrease the same with oil or similar material, which is not onlytroublesome, but laborious and of little real value, and prevents thematrices from being kept perfectly clean and free from oil, as theyshould be. Furthermore the greasyor oily matter is vapor- 8o ized by thehot type-metal, and the vapor enters the letters or characters of thematrices, and so affects them that they, as well as the print therefromare dimmed.

It has been proposed to prevent the crushing or pressing in of the wallsat the sides of the characters or letters of the matrices by increasingthe thickness of the latter, but this is objectionable for many reasons,chiefly because the thickened matrices occupy too go much space. I havediscovered that the objections stated are entirely avoided by theprovision of means whereby thesecondary wedge-plates are caused to slidein contact with the matrices in a mannersimilar' to the slidingmovements of the mainwedge-plates during the justifying operation, whenthe aligned matrices lie in the yoke or frame in proper relation to themold. By this means the secondary wedge-plates are, by frictional toocontact with the matrices, maintained in a perfectly clean and smoothcondition, and the type-metal, which tends to adhere to the secondarywedge-slides, is effectually prevented from adhering, so that theliability of crushing or pressing in the walls at the sides of thecharacters or letters of the matrices is entirely avoided, and thecleaning and greasing of the space-bars is rendered unnecessary, therebyenabling perfect work to be pro duced, and enabling the cast typebars toproduce printed matter entirely free from burrs, or lines ofdemarkation, or fine lines between the printed letters or characters,while at the same time largely contributing to the life of the matrices.

The invention consists, essentially, in the combination with a yoke orframe in which aligned matrices are suspended and sustained injuxtaposition to a mold, and space-bars each composed of a main plateand a secondary plate having devices to suspend it from the yoke orframe, of means whereby the secondary plates of the spacebars move insliding contact with the sides of the matrices when the main plates ofthe space-bars are forced or moved between the matrices to justify theline.

The invention also consists in the combination with a yoke or frame inwhich aligned matrices are suspended and sustained in juxtaposition to amold, and space-bars each composed of a main wedge-plate and a seeondary wedge-plate slidingly connected with the main wedge-plate andhaving sustaining lugs or shoulders, of a yielding abutment or railagainst which the secondary wedgeplates bear, and by which saidsecondary wedge-plates are adapted to move or yield in sliding contactwith the matrices when the main wedge-plates are operated to justify thealigned matrices.

The invention also consists in certain other features and combinationsor arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is adetailsectional view of a portion of the yoke or frame in which the alignedmatrices are suspended or sustained in juxtaposition to a mold, thespace-bars being represented in their lowest positions prior tojustifying or spacing the matrices. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showingthe space-bars raised or moved to justify the line. Fig. 3 is a detailside elevation of the composed line looking at the characters or lettersof the matrices, and showing the usual clamps or vise-jaws by which theline of matrices is confined in position in the yoke or frame. Fig. 4 isa de tail enlarged edge view of a matrix to show the thin walls at thesides of the character or letter. Fig. 5 is a detail enlarged edge viewof a space-bar having thereupon a lump or projection formed byaccumulated typemetal. Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged edge view,

showing the manner in which the lump or projection formed by theaccumulated typemetal crushes or presses in the thin wall of the matrix;and Fig. 7 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of a type-bar producedfrom matrices having their thin walls crushed or pressed in, ashereinbefore alluded to, and showing the solid metal lines orprojections which produce the burrs or fine lines between the printedletters or characters.

In orderto enable my invention to be clearly understood by those skilledin the artI do not deem it necessary to illustrate the entire machine,and therefore have only shown such parts as I believe will clearlyexhibit the im provement I have made.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the ordinary yoke or frame inwhich the line of assembled or composed matrices, with the space-bars atthe proper points, are carried or movedinto juxtaposition to the usualmold for producing a cast-type bar, or a line of words or characters, byinjecting type-metal into one side of the mold while the opposite sidethereof is closed by the matrices, as is well known in machines of thecharacter to which my invention relates.

In the practical use of the machine, the matrices and the space-bars arereleased from the cells or channels of a magazine through the medium offinger-key mechanism,aud are assembled in a composing block, and thenshifted into the yoke or frame 1, which is lowered or moved into properrelation to the mold. The line of matrices is clamped by the usualvise-jaws 2, Fig. 3, and then the space-bars are acted upon to obtainthe required spaces between the end of one word and the beginning ofanother.

The space-bars are each composed of a main tapered or wedge-plate 3, anda short second ary wedge-plate at inseparably connected with the mainwedge-plate by a suitable sliding connection,and provided at its upperor thickest end with sustaining lugs or shoulders 6, adapted to engageand be sustained by the ribbed and grooved or recessed portion of theyoke or frame.

In the usual line, or type-bar casting machine, the two oppositelyprojecting lugs or shoulders 6 of each secondary wedge-plate engageparts of the yoke or frame, in such manner that the secondarywedge-plates are held immovable or stationary when the main wedge-platesare forced or driven between the matrices to justify the line. It willbe obvious, therefore, that the edge portions of the secondarywedge-plates, exposed to the typemetal during the repeated castingoperations, remain the same at all times, and consequently the adheringtype-metal accumulates as a lump or projection, as at 7, Figs. 5 and 6,which in time crushes or presses in the thin wall 8 at the side of thecharacter or letter of the matrix 9, with the result that a cavity isformed which becomes enlarged and admits typemetal. In consequence ofthis the cast typebar, or line of characters or words, is formed IICwith thin metallines, as at 10, Fig. 7,between the type characters orletters. These thin metal lines produce burrs, or lines of demarkation,or very fine lines, between the characters or letters of the printedmatter, which mar or destroy the appearance thereof. This seriousobjection I avoid without increasing the thickness of the matrices byproviding suitable means whereby the secondary wed geplates are adaptedto yield on the final thrust of the main wedge-plates and slide incontact with the matrices much the same as the main wedge-plates,thereby rubbing off any typemetal that may have been deposited on thesecondary wedge-plates during a previous casting operation. As shown inthe accompanying drawings I attain the desired result by constructingthe yoke or frame 1, at its opposite sides, with longitudinal chambers,grooves, or recesses 12 and 13 of sufficient depth and height to enablethe sustaining lugs or shoulders 6, of the secondary wedge-plates 4, tomove vertically, so that the secondary wedge-plates can slide in contactwith the sides of the matrices.

The edges 14. of the secondary wedge-plates, in proximity to the lugs orshoulders 6, are so constructed that they can move past the longitudinalshoulders or ribs 15, which serve asstops to prevent displacement orvertical movement of the matrices during the justifying operation. Theconstruction is such that when the main wedge-plates are forced ordriven lengthwise between the matrices, the secondary wedge-plates arealso caused to move in the same direction, and these frequentlyrepeatedmovements of the secondary wedge-plates entirely free them from alladhering type-metal, and the entire space-bar is cleaned during theoperation of the machine, so that greasing or oiling of the spacebars isunnecessary.

It is advisable that the sliding movements of the secondary wedge-plates4 should not occur on theinitial upward movement of the mainwedge-plates 3, as this would interfere with or prevent the necessaryand proper pressure of the secondary wedge -plates against the matrices.For this reason I increase the height of the chamber, groove, or recess12 and arrange in the upper portion thereof a yielding abutment,preferably made in the form of a bar or rail 16, against which bears thesustaining lug or shoulder 6 at one edge of each secondary wedge-plate.The bar or rail 16 is constantly pressed downward by a suitable spring17, one or more, and the arrangement is such that on the initial upwardmovements of the main Wedge-plates the movements of the secondarywedge-plates are temporarily resisted by the spring-pressed bar or rail,in such manner that the secondary wedge-plates become attached, as itwere, by friction to the main wedge-plates, so that on the second orfinal thrust of the latter, the resistance offered by the spring-pressedbar or rail is overcome by the upward pressure of the secondarywedge-plates, and the latter are, by frictional contact with the mainwedgeplates, driven upward by the latter. The. distance which thesecondary wedge-plates travel should not be too great. It is sufficientif they move about three-sixteenths of an inch. wedge-plates not onlyremoves all type-metal therefrom, but obtains the very useful results ofentirely preventing crushing or pressing in of the thin walls at thesides of the characters -or letters of the matrices, thereby materiallyincreasing the life of the same, and enabling attractive clean printingto be obtained.

The matrices ordinarily used in this class of line-casting machines areprovided with shoulders at their upper and lower ends, and the shouldersat their upper ends lie in the groove below the shoulders or ribs 15. Asbefore stated, the shoulders or ribs 15 serve as stops to preventvertical adjustment of the matrices during the justifying operation.

My invention avoids the labor of daily scraping the type-bars to removeany metal therefrom, keeps the secondary or small wedge-plates cleanwithout the use of oil or black lead, and prevents burrs appearing inthe printed matter.

The mechanical appliances or construction of parts for attaining theresult set forth can be Widely varied without affecting the spirit of myinvention, and therefore I claim 1 1. The combination with a yoke orframe in which aligned matrices are sustained, and space-bars eachcomposed of a main plate and a secondary plate having devices to supportit in the yoke or frame, of means whereby the secondary plates of thespace-bars move in sliding contact with the sides of the matr ces whenthe main-plates of the space-bars are forced or moved between thematrices to justify the line, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a yoke or frame in which aligned matrices aresuspended and sustained in juxtaposition to a mold, and space-bars eachcomposed of amain-plate and a secondary plate having devices to suspendit from the yoke or frame,0f means whereby the secondary plates of thespace-bars move in sliding contact with the sides of the matrices whenthe main plates of the space-bars are forced or driven upward betweenthe matrices to justify the line, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a yoke or frame in which aligned matrices aresuspended and sustained in juxtaposition to a mold, and space-bars eachcomposed of a main plate and a secondary-plate having sustaining lugs orshoulders to suspend it from the yoke or frame, of means whereby thesecondary-plates of the space-bars move in sliding contact with thesides of the matrices when the main-plates of the space-bars are forcedor driven upward between the matrices to justify the line, substantiallyas described.

The sliding action of the secondary ICO.

substantially as described. 5. The combination with a yoke or frame inwhich aligned matrices are suspended, and space-bars each composed of amain-plate and a secondary-plate having sustaining lugs or shoulders tosuspend it from the yoke or frame, of a yielding abutment against whichsome of the sustaining lugs or shoulders bear and by which saidsecondary wedge-plates are adapted to move or yield in sliding contactwith the matrices when the main wedgepl-(ites are operated to justifythe line, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and ailixed my seal inpresence of 2 two subscribing witnesses.

COLLESTIN SKATULLA. Witnesses:

HERMAN BID ER, CLEMENS HUNEWINOKELL.

